Chapter 43

Sea City's government planned to launch a new landmark development project in Sea City, and both the Lu family and Wang Shining's family companies were determined to win it.

Wang Shining knew his father had recently been run ragged over competing with the Lu family for that project. To curry favor with his father, he told him about his bet with Lu Yao.

He concealed how the matter had started and only said that victory was already in the bag.

After learning that Lu Yao's usual grades were nowhere near Wang Shining's, Father Wang was quite smug. He felt it was a good omen, one that foretold the Wang family defeating the Lu family in this bidding process as well.

Father Wang had even deliberately flaunted it in front of Father Lu at a dinner gathering.

After Father Lu learned of it, however, he did not take the outcome of the matter too seriously.

In his view, Lu Yao was a mature and sensible child. Since Lu Yao had made this choice himself, he must have been mentally prepared to face the consequences. Therefore, Father Lu did not interfere much.

The night before the exam, Lu Yao's room.

Ever since Lu Qi had beaten Lu Yao in their previous exam, he had gradually returned to his old lazy ways.

Lu Yao thought this was a good opportunity to straighten him out, so under the pretext of tutoring, he had Lu Qi come to his room every evening to help him with his homework.

Lu Yao glanced at the problem on the desk. His voice was deliberately hesitant, filled with uncertainty. "Do I substitute this formula here, then move on to the next step after getting the number?"

Lu Qi had been scratching his head over how to solve the problem. Hearing Lu Yao's words, he thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh in realization.

"That's right, that's exactly how you write it. How have I become such a genius lately?"

Lu Qi's confidence had practically exploded lately.

His pen flew across the answer sheet.

Halfway through writing, he suddenly looked up. "Wait, why am I still writing? Didn't the bandage on your right hand already come off?"

Lu Yao had previously said that his right hand was wrapped in bandages and it was inconvenient for him to write. He said he would dictate while Lu Qi wrote down the solution process for him. During this period, Lu Qi had solved quite a few problems.

Lu Yao curled his lips. "I'm worried it hasn't fully healed yet. I want to let it rest a little longer, so I don't end up without the strength to use it tomorrow."

Lu Qi did not suspect a thing after hearing that. "That makes some sense."

A faint smile appeared in Lu Yao's eyes.

Lu Qi truly had no guard up against Lu Yao at all. He deeply believed everything Lu Yao said.

During this time, Lu Yao had deliberately used uncertain wording like that just now to guide Lu Qi step by step through problems Lu Qi did not know how to solve.

Lu Qi never grew suspicious from beginning to end. He kept following Lu Yao's pace and even thought he was simply a late bloomer who had suddenly caught on overnight.

Because of the bet between Lu Yao and Wang Shining, the students at school unexpectedly began looking forward to the monthly exam.

The two-day monthly exam soon came to an end.

During the final math exam, after filling in his answers, Lu Yao packed up his stationery, handed in his paper early, and left the classroom.

Lu Yao was now well known throughout the school. When the students in the same examination room saw him hand in his paper and leave so far ahead of time, then looked at their own tests with more than half still unfinished, they all secretly guessed that Lu Yao had given up on himself and stopped struggling.

After the bell marking the end of the final exam rang, students who had handed in their papers gradually emerged from the various classrooms.

"Why was this test so hard?"

"I didn't even have time to do the last two major math problems. I'm definitely doomed this time!"

"Math wasn't the only hard one. I only managed to solve one of the major physics problems this morning!"

"Studying is harder than climbing to the heavens."

"I heard Lu Yao handed in the final math exam early. Do you think he gave up? This math paper was seriously brutal."

"Giving up early is a good thing. Better than sitting in there for an hour like me and not being able to write a damn thing."

"Hahaha, if I help Lu Yao clean the badminton hall later, do you think he'll be so touched that he'll like me even a tiny bit?"

"Wake up, it's still daylight. It's too early to dream. Do you think he needs you to suck up to him?"

"Let's go. Stop talking about the test papers—it's annoying just listening to it. Anyway, now that the exams are over, it's the weekend. Time to have some fun!"

Hearing the chatter of the students passing around him, Wang Shining smiled smugly.

It seemed that he was one hundred percent guaranteed to win this time!

Thinking about the exam papers, he sincerely praised Xia Yue, who was walking beside him. "Xia Yue, your predictions were incredibly accurate. You guessed several major questions on this monthly exam. I calculated it—the questions you predicted added up to at least one hundred points."

Seeing Wang Shining's admiring expression, Xia Yue smiled modestly. "It's really nothing. The fundamentals never change. Once you've done enough problems, you'll have a rough idea of what kinds of questions the teachers will set."

Wang Shining said, "You're too modest. You really are amazing. The questions on this test were all set from tricky angles. There were quite a few problems I might not have been able to solve if you hadn't explained similar ones to me when you were making predictions."

Xia Yue smiled gently. "It's nothing, really. I'm already happy just to be able to help you."

Although Wang Shining had always been an excellent student, Xia Yue had the system peek at the sealed exam papers in the safe for peace of mind. The system had demanded an advance payment of another five years of her life force, but when she thought of how this could strike a blow against Lu Yao and earn her a large number of points to exchange for more strategy tools, Xia Yue felt the deal was still worthwhile.

She refused to believe that after giving Wang Shining so many questions in advance, he could still lose to Lu Yao!

Wang Shining smiled arrogantly. "Next week, I'll have that brat Lu Yao clean the Badminton Club for you. That way, you'll have more time to spend with me."

Xia Yue said, "Shining, you're really too kind. On behalf of the other first-year students, thank you for being so considerate. We have to clean the Badminton Club every day after school, and it's really exhausting. Now we can take it a little easier."

Just as the students finished their monthly exams and left school, Lu Yao had already arrived at his doorstep.

Thinking of how Jiang Bai had missed this monthly exam because he was sick these past two days, Lu Yao turned away from his front door and headed toward Jiang Bai's home instead, intending to visit him.

Hearing the doorbell ring, the Jiang Family's housekeeper hurried over to answer it.

When she opened the door, she said, "Student Lu, why are you here?"

As Jiang Bai and Lu Yao grew closer, the Jiang Family's housekeeper had remembered Lu Yao's face as well.

Lu Yao said, "Hello, Auntie. I heard Jiang Bai was sick, so I came to visit him."

The Jiang Family's housekeeper warmly greeted Lu Yao. "Come in and have a seat. Jiang Bai is upstairs in his room. I'll go call him down."

It was a rare thing for Jiang Bai to have a classmate visit him. She had worked for the Jiang Family for nearly ten years, yet she had never seen any classmate come looking for Jiang Bai.

Hearing the housekeeper greeting a guest, Grandpa Jiang, who had been reading in the study, came out.

Seeing Grandpa Jiang come down the stairs, Lu Yao stood and greeted him. "Hello, Grandpa Jiang. I'm Lu Yao, Jiang Bai's deskmate."

Grandpa Jiang nodded with a smile.

"Sit, don't stand on ceremony. Grandpa Jiang has wanted to meet you for a long time. When Jiang Bai went sketching in Mountain City with me before, it was fortunate that you stepped in to save him. I've always wanted to find a chance to thank you."

Lu Yao sat upright on the sofa. "Grandpa Jiang, there's no need to be polite. It was only a small matter. Jiang Bai has also taken good care of me at school."

"Grandpa, what are you talking about?"

Hearing Jiang Bai's voice, Lu Yao and Grandpa Jiang both looked up.

Seeing that Jiang Bai's complexion was several shades paler than usual, Lu Yao could not help frowning.

There were plenty of empty seats nearby, yet Jiang Bai naturally sat down beside Lu Yao.

Lu Yao's voice was calm but concerned. "Are you feeling all right?"

Jiang Bai had already been delighted when he heard Lu Yao had come to see him. Now that he heard Lu Yao's concern, he could not hide the joy in his eyes.

He smiled softly. "I'm much better now."

Jiang Bai had suddenly come down with a low fever the night before last. His condition had only begun to improve today, but after seeing Lu Yao, he felt instantly refreshed.

After chatting with Lu Yao and Grandpa Jiang for a while, Jiang Bai suddenly gave Grandpa Jiang a meaningful look.

With a perfectly composed expression, he said to the old man, "Grandpa, didn't you say you had something to do just now? Go take care of your own business. You don't need to stay here on purpose to keep us company."

Grandpa Jiang: "..." What could a retired old man like him possibly be busy with? This brat actually thought he was in the way!

Jiang Bai said, "Come on, Lu Yao. Let's talk in my room."

Hearing that Jiang Bai had actually invited Lu Yao into his room, the housekeeper in the distance secretly widened her eyes in shock and stared over in astonishment.

Jiang Bai's cleanliness obsession was so severe that he would not allow anyone into his room—not even his parents or grandfather. He even cleaned the room himself on ordinary days. Yet today, he had actually taken the initiative to invite Lu Yao into it.

Grandpa Jiang watched their backs as they went upstairs. Noticing the way Jiang Bai looked at Lu Yao, he narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

Jiang Bai's room was clean and tidy, with everything arranged in perfect order.

The moment Lu Yao entered the room, he noticed the pot of Marguerites blooming luxuriantly on Jiang Bai's windowsill.

Lu Yao chuckled softly. It seemed that if he wanted to buy Jiang Bai a gift in the future, he only needed to choose this kind of flower or something featuring it.

Seeing Lu Yao notice the Marguerites, Jiang Bai smiled. "How has the pot I gave you been blooming lately?"

Lu Yao said, "Pretty well, but the fertilizer you gave me is almost used up. I'll need to buy more after a while."

Jiang Bai nodded lightly. "Then I'll take you when the time comes. I know which flower shop has better fertilizer."

Lu Yao said, "All right."

After Lu Yao and Jiang Bai chatted for a while longer, Lu Yao noticed the weariness beginning to show between Jiang Bai's brows because of his illness. He said, "It's getting late. I should head home too."

Although Jiang Bai was reluctant, he could only stand and walk Lu Yao downstairs.

After Jiang Bai saw Lu Yao to the entryway, Lu Yao said, "This is far enough. The wind is strong outside in the evening, so don't come out. You might make your illness worse."

Hearing Lu Yao's concerned words, Jiang Bai smiled warmly. "All right. Remember to tell me when you get home."

Lu Yao had only taken two steps when he suddenly turned back. Looking at Jiang Bai, he instructed in a low voice, "Make sure you get plenty of rest. That way, you'll recover faster."

Jiang Bai could not help smiling. "Got it. I'll listen to you."

The moment Lu Yao's back disappeared from Jiang Bai's sight, Grandpa Jiang walked over to his side.

The old man had spent his entire life in art and was especially sensitive to matters of the heart.

His expression was calm. "So, he's the one?"

Jiang Bai lowered his eyes and gave a quiet "Mm."

Grandpa Jiang said, "He looks like a good kid."

Hearing Grandpa Jiang praise Lu Yao, Jiang Bai's lips could not help curving upward.

Seeing Jiang Bai's undisguised expression, Grandpa Jiang sighed inwardly.

Forget it. Children and grandchildren would have their own blessings. At least during this period, Jiang Bai had visibly begun to seem a little more alive. He was no longer like before, always wearing a faint smile yet giving people a cold, distant feeling that made him hard to approach.

Besides, with this child's detached nature, he might not encounter another person like Lu Yao in this lifetime—someone who could move him so deeply.

Grandpa Jiang said, "You'd better work hard. Don't disgrace the Jiang Family."

Jiang Bai said, "I won't."

Grandpa Jiang curled his lips. "Hmph. That kid doesn't look easy to pursue. He's handsome and has a good personality. I think you'll have plenty of rivals to contend with."

Thinking of the love letters that often appeared in Lu Yao's drawer, Jiang Bai's face darkened slightly.

He glanced at the old man, his voice slow but resolute. "I won't admit defeat."